Implications For Quality Management Research Articles

Comparison of German and American Higher Education Accreditation Systems and Implications for Quality Management of Higher Education in China

Comparison of German and American Higher Education Accreditation Systems and Implications for Quality Management of Higher Education in China

Antimalarial stocking decisions among medicine retailers in Ghana: implications for quality management and control of malaria

Global health efforts such as malarial control require efficient pharmaceutical supply chains to ensure effective delivery of quality-assured medicines to those who need them. However, very little is currently known...

QUALITY MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES IN MALAYSIA'S MANUFACTURING FIRMS: IMPLICATIONS ON EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT, NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY OF PRODUCTION

This paper explores the implications of quality management on employee involvement, new product development and quality of production in Malaysia’s manufacturing firms. Based on the results of research into the implementation of quality management initiatives by 201 manufacturing firms in Malaysia, this paper concentrates on the relationships between quality management and the aforesaid variables. The most significant implication of this paper is that businesses should pay more attention to quality management practices, particularly in Malaysia’s manufacturing firms. Keywords: Quality management, employee involvement, new product development, quality of production.

How quality as transformation is manifested and enabled in a student vision of an ideal university: implications for quality management in higher education

The qualitative research study conducted in the Polish higher education context confirms that students’ vision of an ideal university strongly embraces the concept of quality as transformation. The enhancement and empowerment are manifested by multiple facets of transformation that the students look for at an ideal university, including intellectual, critical, personal, emotional and physical development. Quality culture and transformative pedagogies form important enablers for operationalising quality as transformation. In support of the transformative power of the ideal-type university, implications for quality management in higher education are proposed.

Innovation, professionalisation and evaluation: implications for quality management in higher education

ABSTRACT At first sight, discussing the relevance of innovation, professionalisation and evaluation for higher education quality management seems to be redundant. Universities can legitimately be expected to be innovation-friendly, to pursue professionalism in their approaches to teaching and to be appreciative towards an evidence-supported management practice that relies on sound evaluation research methods. At second sight however, things prove to be blurry. For instance, evaluation practice in the field of higher education, with its focus on predefined quality indicators can in the worst case impede teaching innovation that requires more openness and error-tolerance. The paper thus discusses innovation, professionalisation and evaluation as interrelated concepts that can in the best case contribute to an adaptive and agile quality management environment which is context sensitive and creates trust in the employed mechanisms and those who are in charge to perform them.

A Study on the Development and Use of Textbooks in Denmark: Implications for Quality Management according to the Diversification of Textbook Publication System

A Study on the Development and Use of Textbooks in Denmark: Implications for Quality Management according to the Diversification of Textbook Publication System

Analysis on clinical Bio-Bank quality construction mechanism

Objective Based on Total Quality Management (TQM) theory, our study aims to analyze the clinical Bio-Bank overall quality management implications, basic characteristics, principles, and management mechanisms, and provide theoretical basis for the clinical Bio-Bank quality construction. Methods Using theoretical and literature research methods, Bio-Bank overall quality management qualitative analysis was conducted, putting forward a framework of Bio-Bank comprehensive quality management. Results Biological sample overall quality management was defined theoretically including its connotation, concepts and basic characteristics. We also put forward an application principle and basic operation method at the application level. Conclusions Total Quality Management (TQM) is applied to the clinical Bio-Bank construction, from where, the scientific and unique management content can effectively optimize the Bio-Bank management regulation and standardization of the sample operation process in the PDCA cycle, which is critical to improve the quality of clinical Bio-Bank. Key words: Total quality management; Clinical Bio-Bank; Quality

Educational Leadership: Implications for Quality Management in the Development of Cameroon Higher Education

Educational Leadership: Implications for Quality Management in the Development of Cameroon Higher Education

The effects of total quality management implications on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty: an empirical study in the Taiwanese security industry

Taiwan has achieved financial liberalisation and reduced many monetary control measures. When a market transforms into a buyer's market, entrepreneurs face highly competitive situations and should provide a type of enterprise value to attract customer attention. However, few studies have examined total quality management (TQM) and how the security industry can promote customer satisfaction and loyalty. The priorities of service providers should be developing a comprehensive TQM system, understanding customer needs and reducing the frequency of service gaps to achieve customer satisfaction and loyalty. Therefore, this study focuses on service industry angles for the negotiable securities industry and whether these angles affect the degree of customer satisfaction and loyalty through the use of TQM. This study included 516 security industry customers in Taiwan as the participants, applying structural equation modelling by using LISREL 8.51 to perform analyses. The customer satisfaction variable, as shown by the TQM variable adjustment, positively influences customer loyalty. [Received 2 August 2014; Revised 15 February 2015; Revised 3 August 2015; Accepted 30 May 2016]

The involvement of medical doctors in hospital governance and implications for quality management: a quick scan in 19 and an in depth study in 7 OECD countries.

BackgroundHospital governance is broadening its orientation from cost and production controls towards ‘improving performance on clinical outcomes’. Given this new focus one might assume that doctors are drawn into hospital management across OECD countries. Hospital performance in terms of patient health, quality of care and efficiency outcomes is supposed to benefit from their involvement. However, international comparative evidence supporting this idea is limited. Just a few studies indicate that there may be a positive relationship between medical doctors being part of hospital boards, and overall hospital performance. More importantly, the assumed relationship between these so-called doctor managers and hospital performance has remained a ‘black-box’ thus far. However, there is an increasing literature on the implementation of quality management systems in hospitals and their relation with improved performance. It seems therefore fair to assume that the relation between the involvement of doctors in hospital management and improved hospital performance is partly mediated via quality management systems. The threefold aim of this paper is to 1) perform a quick scan of the current situation with regard to doctor managers in hospital management in 19 OECD countries, 2) explore the phenomenon of doctor managers in depth in 7 OECD countries, and 3) investigate whether doctor involvement in hospital management is associated with more advanced implementation of quality management systems.MethodsThis study draws both on a quick scan amongst country coordinators in OECD’s Health Care Quality Indicator program, and on the DUQuE project which focused on the implementation of quality management systems in European hospitals.ResultsThis paper reports two main findings. First, medical doctors fulfil a broad scope of managerial roles at departmental and hospital level but only partly accompanied by formal decision making responsibilities. Second, doctor managers having more formal decision making responsibilities in strategic hospital management areas is positively associated with the level of implementation of quality management systems.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that doctors are increasingly involved in hospital management in OECD countries, and that this may lead to better implemented quality management systems, when doctors take up managerial roles and are involved in strategic management decision making.

An optimal plan of zero-defect single-sampling by attributes for incoming inspections in assembly lines

This paper proposes a nonlinear integer program for determining an optimal plan of zero-defect, single-sampling by attributes for incoming inspections in assembly lines. Individual parts coming to an assembly line differ in the non-conforming (NC) risk, NC severity, lot size, and inspection cost-effectiveness. The proposed optimization model is able to determine the inspection sample size for each of the parts in a resource constrained condition where a product’s NC risk is not a linear combination of NC risks of the individual parts. This paper develops a three-step solution procedure that effectively reduces the solution time for larger size problems commonly seen in assembly lines. The proposed optimization model provides insightful implications for quality management. For example, it reveals the principle of sample size decisions for heterogeneous, dependent parts waiting for incoming inspections; as well as provides a tool for quantifying the expected return from investing additional inspection resources. The optimization model builds a foundation for extensions to advanced inspection sampling plans.

Research on Energy Logistics Service Quality Management Implications to Sustainable Development

Analyzed about the present situation of energy logistics service quality, and combined with related literature at home and abroad, select “energy logistics tracking information timeliness”, “accuracy of energy logistics tracking information”, ”energy delivery time accuracy”, “energy distribution accuracy “, “energy integrity “, “error handling” six elements as a measure factors of the energy logistics service quality, establish research model. Through questionnaire investigation and quantitative analysis verify this research model. The Conclusions: energy distribution of accuracy have significant positive effects on sustainable development, and influence degree; Energy delivery time accuracy, integrity have significant positive effects on sustainable development, but the impact is relatively small; While energy logistics tracking information timeliness, accuracy and error of energy logistics tracking information treatment had no significant influence to the sustainable development of economy and society. Energy logistics is an important part of the logistics industry, also is an important support of economic society and people's life. Improve the quality of energy logistics service, to play an important role in promoting sustainable development.

TQM and financial performance: are findings of direct effects methodological artefacts?

Whether the relationship between total quality management (TQM) and subsequent financial performance is direct or indirect has been one of the most productive research streams in the quality management literature. The current study adds to this important literature stream by demonstrating that findings of a direct relationship between the two constructs may be due to potential data analytic pitfalls associated with the particular longitudinal research techniques employed. The current study briefly reviews six potential pitfalls. Then, to demonstrate how these pitfalls can potentially compromise research results, the current study analyses the relationship between TQM and financial performance in a panel of 93 publicly traded, US firms that won supplier quality awards in the period 1985–1993. The data set is analysed utilising two alternative research methodologies: cross-sectional analysis utilising a series of t-tests (a popular research approach in this literature stream) that does not address any of the potential pitfalls and MANOVA for repeated measures that addresses all six. The study concludes with practical implications for quality management and top management executives.

Long-term stability of laboratory tests and practical implications for quality management

Long-term stability of analytical performance is required for adequate patient management. We investigated the use of patient data to document test stability, and the relevance of observed instabilities on a surrogate medical outcome. We used multiyear patient and internal quality control (IQC) data from two laboratories for tests to monitor chronic kidney and thyroid disease. We plotted moving means of the 50th percentiles of stratified patient data and of the daily IQC means. We evaluated observed instabilities based on goals inferred from the analytes' biological variation and investigated their effect on classification of results against reference intervals. Patient and IQC data generally matched well, except for analytes, for which other than analytical variation sources prevailed. Analytical instabilities were predominantly due to reagent/calibrator lot changes, however, for immunoassays also to within-lot instabilities, urging frequent recalibrations. The relevance of biased results on medical decisions ranged from negligible to very pronounced, indicating the need for assessment of analytical performance in relation to quality goals inferred from biological variation. Patient percentiles offer great potential to assess/monitor the medium- to long-term analytical stability of a test within certain constraints. Differences in analytical quality between assays can significantly affect medical outcome.

The Chinese Milk Powder Crisis: Implications for Supply Chain Quality Management

We examine the supply chain quality management implications of a product harm crisis. Using an in-depth case study of the recent recalls of melamine-tainted dairy products in China, we examine the ...

Trust and quality management: Perspectives from marketing and organisational learning

In this paper, the concept of trust is elaborated upon and compared with the traditional values of quality management. Trust is approached from the areas of relationship marketing and organisational learning where it is a frequent element. The purpose is to create a framework of trust based on previous research, particularly in the areas of relationship marketing and organisational learning, and to analyse whether trust should be regarded as a core value of quality management. Properties of the concept of trust in quality management, relationship marketing and organisational learning are described. Concerning trust as a quality value, it is found that dissimilarities with the current values make it an unsuitable candidate for inclusion in this group. However, examination of the underlying components of the current values of quality management is encouraged with the conviction that trust will prove to be an important element in this endeavour. A tentative framework based on the two dimensions of aspects of trust and components of the relationship is proposed. This framework broadens the view of trust and its implications for quality management. The proposed framework should be helpful for managers in providing a more structured view of the different aspects of trust in business relationships.

An analysis of decision-making process in organizations: Implications for quality management and systematic practice

Decision-making is an integral organisational process that impacts every level including, individual, group, and organisation. It is often associated with problem-solving and group processes in the organisational structure. With the advance of technology and our ability to engage in more streamlined business, the role of decision-making in today's organisations became even more critical. Organisational members are often left with making fast and rapid decisions without being furnished with knowledge and skills to make them. This paper first provides an overview of different decision-making process including, brainstorming, affinity diagramming, force-field analysis, flow charting, planning matrix, unilateral decision-making, consultative decision-making, voting decision-making, and consensus decision-making; and consequently, analyses the utility of decision-making process in organisational settings and investigate their implications for quality management in organisations. The findings of this study demonstrate the integral link between decision-making and various organisational processes such as quality decision-making, systematic planning, performance, and learning.

Seasonal Variations in Skin Pigmentation and Flesh Quality of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.): Implications for Quality Management

The external coloration of fish is a key driver in consumer buying decisions and is typically altered during sexual maturation in salmonids. Farmed Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) exhibiting distinct phenotypes from the typical silver and nuptial coloration were described in terms of sexual development, flesh quality, and skin pigment profiles. Reconditioning of skin coloration during storage was also tested (CIE[1976]L*a*b*) with the overall view to optimize quality management. The intermediary phenotype never reflected significant deteriorations of flesh quality. It originated from a lack of purine pigments (guanine and hypoxanthine), revealing the carotenoid compounds dominated by the yellow-orange beta-carotene. The resulting distinctive lightness and yellowness were reduced by direct ice contact at a post-mortem stage. Storage conditions can be optimized to improve and standardize the coloration of whole-fish, yielding superior flesh quality parameters. This would facilitate product quality grading during primary processing and also increase product acceptance and attractiveness.

Psychodynamische Therapiefoki in einer stationären multimodalen Therapie - Zusammenhänge zu den Selbstauskunftskalen und Individuellen Therapiezielen/ Psychodynamic therapy foci in inpatient psychotherapy – relations to self-assessment scales and individual therapeutic goals

How do the OPD-based psychotherapy foci formulated by the therapeutic team at the patient's admission develop and how do they relate to change in symptoms and to the patient's individual therapeutic goals? After Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostics (OPD) in 188 psychotherapy inpatients, 2-3 clinically relevant OPD foci were chosen in joint team sessions after admission and assessed by the Heidelberg Structural Change Scale (HSCS) at the beginning and the end of inpatient psychotherapy. Patients formulated their individual therapy goals at the beginning and assessed their achievement at the end of inpatient psychotherapy and filled in self-assessment scales. At the end of therapy there was a significant mean improvement of one step on the Heidelberg Restructuring Scale for all three foci (0.9-1.2) in the sample as a whole. In approximately one-fourth of the patients we observed no change in the HSCS (25.5-27.7 %), approximately 70 % improved one to four steps towards higher awareness of, coping with or restructuring of the focus. The hypothesis of high correlations between the different measures of change could be supported only in part. The clinical implications and the implications for quality management are discussed.

Standardization and Individualization Strategies of Hotel Brands: Matching Strategy to Quality Management Instruments and Marketing in Germany

ABSTRACT In the literature and in management practice it is taken for granted that service quality is the most relevant factor for success of hotels. Quality-management instruments and practices measure and improve service quality as perceived by guests. Service quality is understood to enhance personal recommendations and customer loyalty–both of which create positive word-of-mouth communication. However, previous studies have neglected to research the link between the overall strategy of hotels and quality-management practices. This relationship is of importance because various competitive strategies might have different implications for quality management. The empirical results of the present study indicate that consistency between strategies and quality-management instruments can support perceived service quality. Therefore integrated quality management enhances positive word-of-mouth recommendation.